Nautical Ventures operates five locations across the Sunshine State, serving South Florida, Palm Beach, Sarasota and Tampa Bay with retail, marina and service operations. The company entered a new chapter in June 2025 when Vision Marine Technologies acquired it, adding a background in electric propulsion and marine technology.
“Vision Marine is fundamentally a marine technology company,” says chief executive officer Alexandre Mongeon. “Our strategy is to strengthen what Nautical Ventures has historically done well while introducing a dedicated technology division capable of bringing advanced marine products, propulsion systems and customer-facing technologies to market.”
Mongeon says the goal is for Nautical Ventures to be known for strong service and boat selection, and for its ability to introduce and support new marine technologies, creating what he describes as a more complete customer journey that’s closer to an automotive-dealer experience.
The acquisition, he says, connected complementary strengths. “Vision Marine brings marine technology, product-development capabilities and a forward-looking perspective,” he says. “Nautical Ventures brings an established retail network, experienced teams, service infrastructure and direct relationships with boaters.”
The result is that innovation can be commercially meaningful, he adds: “Customers can see it, experience it on the water and receive dependable support after the purchase.”
That footprint includes roughly 160 employees across Nautical Ventures’ Florida operations. “Our people are central to the business,” Mongeon says. “Recreational boating depends on product knowledge, technical expertise, customer trust and consistent follow-through.”
The dealership’s services span new and preowned boat sales, engine sales and repowering, financing and insurance, marina dockage, storage, maintenance, diagnostics, warranty support, fiberglass and hull repair, electronics installation, rigging, bottom work, hauling, parts, and delivery coordination.
The Fort Lauderdale Marina & Service Center is the operating hub for marina services, rigging, parts, logistics and technical work. Mongeon says the location is being positioned as a reference destination for electric-boat diagnostics, maintenance and technical support as demand for electric boats grows. “The objective is for customers to be able to purchase, maintain and service their boats — whether conventionally or electrically powered — through one coordinated organization,” he says.
Nautical Ventures represents a brand portfolio that includes Axopar, Aiata, EdgeWater, Nimbus, Sterk, Twin Vee, Vision Marine and Wellcraft, along with Highfield and Northstar in the yacht-tender and RIB categories, with brand availability varied by location. The propulsion lineup includes Mercury, Suzuki, Tohatsu and Yamaha, alongside Vision Marine’s E-Motion electric propulsion technology and Taiga’s electric recreational products. The dealership also operates a watersports division covering kayaks, paddleboards, personal watercraft, yacht toys, diving equipment and marine accessories.
Mongeon credits the company’s culture for its success, specifically Nautical Ventures’ reputation in customer service, accountability, product knowledge, integrity and execution. At the same time, an innovative mindset defines Vision Marine, which set a world electric boat speed record of 116 mph.
“As CEO, I believe progress requires looking at an established industry from a different perspective,” he says. “Innovation must have a practical purpose: improving the technology, the product or the experience of being on the water.”
The past year, Mongeon says, has been one of the most transformative in Nautical Ventures’ history. A waterfront dealership opened in Dania Beach, and there’s an
expanded role of the Fort Lauderdale Marina & Service Center as that hub for service, and, increasingly, for sea trials.
He adds that the biggest challenge has been integrating a complex, multilocation organization at a time when consumers are being selective, and when the market is shaped by financing costs and inventory discipline, all while rolling out Vision Marine’s E-Motion technology across vessel platforms. “Integration of this scale requires continuous attention to people, processes, systems and service,” Mongeon says.
“Our objective is to create a more disciplined and efficient organization while retaining the expertise and relationships that have made Nautical Ventures successful,” he adds.
Looking ahead, Nautical Ventures plans to maintain an active schedule of boat shows, customer events, brand demonstrations and sea trials, with marketing built around customer relationships that Mongeon says often evolve as boaters move into larger vessels or new activities.
In the next six months, he says, the priority is execution: refining the coordinated waterfront retail, marina and service model already underway rather than pursuing expansion for its own sake. Mongeon says he expects the broader recreational marine market to stay competitive, with continued growth in interest around new propulsion systems. In August, Vision Marine announced plans for a reverse merger with a privately held company operating in the defense and autonomous technology sector.
“Nautical Ventures’ strongest differentiator is the combination of carefully selected products, technology capabilities, waterfront infrastructure, marine expertise and ownership support available within one organization,” Mongeon says. “Our ambition extends beyond completing individual boat sales. We want to build lasting relationships and provide a better boating experience throughout the customer’s time on the water.”
If you’d like to see your dealership profiled in Soundings Trade Only, email: david.conway@firecrown-com
This story appears in the October 2026 issue of Soundings Trade Only.
